- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 22 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any preliminary assessment of the annual cost, in addition to current subsidies to Caledonian MacBrayne and NorthLink Ferries, of applying road equivalent tariff rates to the fares on all Scottish internal ferry routes and, if so, what the results were.
Answer
The consultants undertaking the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) study have undertaken an initial assessment of the annual reduction in fares revenue with the application of RET rates. This initial assessment has been carried out on all ferry services subsidised by the Scottish Government and is based on no change in travel demand. This change in revenue represents a consequential increase in subsidies additional to current subsidies. The following table sets out the reduction in fares revenue by area. The consultants final report, a copy of which will be sent to you shortly, provides a breakdown by route.
| Area | Change in Revenue £ Million |
| Western Isles | -£7.65 |
| Orkney | -£2.60 |
| Shetland | -£0.18 |
| Firth of Clyde | -£7.23 |
| Inner Hebrides | -£4.19 |
| Skye | -£0.65 |
| Southern Hebrides | -£2.16 |
| Total | -£24.64 |
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts have been made to raise awareness in the marine renewables sector and elsewhere of the existence of the Marine Energy Collaboration Fund.
Answer
The fund was promoted initially through mail-shot activities to companies known to Scottish Enterprise, and through industry bodies such as Scottish Renewables, the Industrial and Power Association and Subsea UK. The fund has also been announced at various industry events.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive who has responsibility for administering the Marine Energy Collaboration Fund; what its purpose is, and what criteria have been set for applications to the fund.
Answer
Responsibility for administering the Marine Energy Collaboration Fund rests with the Scottish Enterprise energy team. Its purpose is to encourage and incentivise the collaboration of marine renewable developers with, for example, oil and gas engineering companies, and to access advice to address specific technical issues which will reduce costs and/or increase efficiency and performance.
Funding is a non-refundable grant contribution up to 50% of eligible costs for small and medium-sized enterprises, at a maximum of £100,000 per project. The fund has been allocated on a competitive basis, with applications assessed against the following criteria “ potential economic development impact, additionality, technical advancement and a thorough appraisal of the applicant.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Marine Energy Collaboration Fund and whether it is considering a review of the fund and, if so, what form such a review will take.
Answer
A full evaluation has not yet been conducted, as two projects are still in progress and one completed just last month. Signs to date indicate that the funding has been a reasonable success in supporting the marine sector and encouraging collaboration across sectors but more evidence is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn.
A review will take place later this year, the findings of which will inform the fund''s future.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the overall budget for the Marine Energy Collaboration Fund is and how much money has been spent under the fund in each year since establishment.
Answer
There has been no precise limit on the fund. Instead, the sums allocated have been limited by the number of applications, as well as the limits imposed by the wider Scottish Enterprise energy team budget for each year. Around £250,000 has been awarded since the fund''s launch in June 2007.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which projects have received funding from the Marine Energy Collaboration Fund and for what purpose.
Answer
Since the fund''s initial launch by Scottish Enterprise in June 2007, funding support worth £250,000 has been committed to the following four projects:
Scotrenewables (Orkney)
AWS (Alness)
Green Cat Energy (Lanarkshire)
Subsea Energy Scotland (Fife)
The fund''s purpose is to incentivise the collaboration of marine renewable developers with, for example, oil and gas engineering companies, and to access advice to address specific technical issues which will reduce costs and/or increase efficiency and performance.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 16 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how it quantifies and communicates the greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved as a result of the delivery of renewable energy targets.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not quantified the impact on greenhouse gas emissions resulting from delivery of the Scottish Government''s renewable energy targets. However, prospective developers are now required to estimate the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from specific projects as part of the consents process under s36 of the Electricity Act.
The annual publication of Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland provides a measure of the trend in overall Scottish emissions. www.naei.org.uk/reports.php.
The Scottish Government publishes a summary of this data on its website at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment/seso/sesoSubSearch/Q/SID/193.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 15 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3192 by John Swinney on 4 September 2007, when it will publish the results of the research project into the potential release of CO2 from peat as a consequence of major construction projects.
Answer
The research project is very near completion and the final report will be published on the Scottish Government website in June 2008.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 14 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12017 by Shona Robison on 30 April 2008, how the £130k allocated to the Partners in Orkney will be shared out between the partners; whether it will be ring-fenced to fund the joint local implementation plans under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, and for how many years the funding been budgeted to be provided.
Answer
The funding for partnership spend on mental health will be allocated through NHS boards. It will be the responsibility of the local partners to work together and agree priorities for spend on local services. The expectation is that this funding will continue to support implementation of the Mental Health Act through a range of services, and where appropriate delivery of the HEAT targets for mental health in Scotland.
Funding has been confirmed for 2008-09 and will be allocated to NHS boards shortly. Funding for future years will be considered in due course.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 May 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what formal arrangements are in place for Scottish Development International’s work with (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Event Scotland, (c) VisitScotland and (d) Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer
Scottish Development International''s (SDI) work is formally supervised by a management board made up of the Director-General Economy (chair) in the Scottish Government and the chief executives of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Officials collaborate on areas of joint interest for SDI''s work with VisitScotland and EventScotland. There is potential for a stronger working relationship in the future as the Scottish Government''s international framework, published on 22 April 2008, makes clear that Scottish ministers wish to see closer co-ordination between the various bodies that promote Scotland''s interests overseas.
